BJP in Karnataka stages statewide demonstration against fuel price hike
Bengaluru (PTI): The opposition BJP in Karnataka on Monday staged a statewide demonstration against the hike in petrol and diesel prices.
The Karnataka government on Saturday hiked sales tax on fuel, which will make petrol and diesel costlier. Petrol prices have gone up by Rs 3 per litre and diesel by Rs 3.5 per litre.
The agitation took place at all the district headquarters of the state.
In Bengaluru, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra led the agitation. He said the protest has been organised against the anti-people stand of the Congress government in Karnataka.
ALSO READ: Petrol, diesel get costlier in Karnataka; Details here
He charged that the hike in petrol and diesel prices will have a direct impact on all the sectors. Due to the five guarantees, the state government was in a big financial burden. As a result, lot of development work had come to a halt, he said. "The government realised that stopping the guarantees would result in public outrage. To continue these guarantees, the government did not have money, so it hiked the petrol and diesel prices," Vijayendra said.
The Congress government's five guarantee schemes are – 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti), Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi), payment of cash in lieu of the additional 5 kg of rice to every member of a BPL household (Anna Bhagya), Rs 3,000 every month for unemployed graduate youth and Rs 1,500 for diploma holders for two years (YuvaNidhi), and free travel for women in public transport buses (Shakti).
According to officials, the hike was aimed at resource mobilisation.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is also the finance minister, reviewed the state's revenue generation and fiscal position and took the decision.
The increase in fuel prices comes days after the Lok Sabha poll results, in which NDA got 19 out of 28 seats in Karnataka, with the BJP winning 17 and JD(S) 2. The ruling Congress in the state won nine seats.
#WATCH | Bengaluru: Karnataka Assembly LoP R Ashok, along with other BJP workers, arrives at Freedom Park with bullock cart to protest against the petrol and diesel price hike in the state. pic.twitter.com/j8YGaqkzym
— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2024
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Kharge criticizes Modi government over economic policies
New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge launched a sharp critique of the BJP-led central government on Thursday, accusing it of creating widespread "economic turmoil" that has deeply impacted the lives of ordinary citizens.
In a post on X, Kharge alleged that the Modi government has no solution to the economic challenges it has created, citing seven key indicators to illustrate what he described as a "mess" in the economy.
Highlighting a significant rise in gold loans and non-performing assets (NPAs) by 50% and 30% respectively, Kharge claimed that these are signs of growing financial distress among households. He also noted that private consumption has slowed over the last eight quarters and remains below pre-COVID levels.
Car sales growth, according to Kharge, has plunged to a four-year low, while wage growth in critical sectors like engineering, manufacturing, and infrastructure has stagnated, growing at a meager compound annual rate of 0.8% over the past five years.
He further criticized the government for an average food inflation rate of 7.1% over the last eight quarters, indirect taxation on essential items through GST, and declining household savings, now at their lowest level in 50 years. Increasing household financial liabilities, which have reached 6.4% of GDP, were also highlighted as a pressing concern.
Kharge underscored the rupee's all-time low, which he said has led to foreign fund outflows and losses for small investors, exacerbating financial challenges.
Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly, Kharge remarked, "Narendra Modi ji, your annual 'New Year Resolutions' have been nothing short of JUMLAS, destroying the lives of EVERY CITIZEN!"
Modi Govt has NO solution for the Economic Turmoil it has created!
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) January 2, 2025
7 indicators that illustrate the extent of mess in the lives of ordinary Indians.
1⃣50% increase in Gold Loans and 30% jump in gold loan NPAs.
2⃣Private consumption - the total value of goods and services… pic.twitter.com/zhGxIQo7bJ
